We decided to drive through rather than stopping for dinner since we were already going to arrive in Tennessee in the middle of the night. We’d agreed the night before that it would be best to leave after work and have the rest of the night to sleep instead of leaving in the morning and getting there just in time for the festivities. Neither one of us wanted to be too tired to enjoy the weekend with our closest friends and family.
“Everything alright?” I asked when Akio pulled his phone out of his pocket as we waited in line for our food.
“Oh yeah, I just need to confirm my reservation at the hotel,” he answered distractedly.
“Why are you staying at a hotel?” I demanded. Akio looked up from his phone, surprised by my reaction.
“Because the cabin was going to be completely filled up with your family members. It’s no big deal. I already talked to Landon about it and he told me about a nice hotel that’s not too far from the cabin,” he explained calmly.
“No, absolutely not. There’s no reason for you to stay in a hotel when you can stay with me at my parents’ house,” I insisted. Akio’s mouth dropped open at my suggestion, but he didn’t have time to respond because the teenager who’d taken our order picked that exact moment to bring our food to the window. I handed the sack of food to Akio, who was still regarding me strangely and then pulled away from the restaurant. We were about a mile down the road before he spoke.
“You want me to stay at your parents’ place? With you?” he asked hoarsely.
“Well, we don’t have to do it that way, but they might wonder why a stranger was staying with them while their son’s at a hotel,” I joked. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye and burst out laughing when I saw the evil look he was giving me. “Oh, come on, that was funny.” Akio rolled his eyes and shook his head at me, but I saw the twitching of his lips before he turned away.
“Won’t your parents think it’s a little strange that you’re bringing home some random guy?” he asked as he began handing out the food.
“You’re not just a random guy,” I said a little sharper than I’d intended and he turned his head to stare at me. “You’re Landon’s best friend and I’d like to think you and I are friends as well so that makes you more than just some random guy,” I explained.
“Still, they have no idea I’m coming and we’ll get there in the middle of the night. I’d feel bad showing up unannounced like that. I’ll just stay at the hotel,” he stated as if it were final. I popped a fry in my mouth and then pressed a button on the steering wheel. A woman’s robotic voice sounded through the Bluetooth system asking me what I wanted.
“Call Mom,” I instructed her.
“What are you doing?” Akio hissed, a look of panic on his face. I held my index finger up to tell him to wait a second.
“Hey, honey! Are you on your way? Your dad and I were just talking about you. Hang on a second and I’ll put you on speaker so he can talk too.” I smiled at the sound of my mother’s voice. It was typical of her to talk a mile a minute. My dad and I had learned a long time ago to just let her finish whatever it was she was going on about before we tried to jump in. A second later, Dad joined her on the line.
“Morgan? Are you doing okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m doing great. The traffic wasn’t too bad leaving the city so we’re making really good time. We should be there around one or two depending on how many stops we make along the way,” I told them.
“We? Is one of your cousins with you because I know Landon’s already here. His fiancé is so sweet and handsome! We met him earlier today and I’m just so happy for them. They said…” I shook my head as I cut her off.
“Mom! Hang on a second. I’ve got you on speaker. I have a friend with me, he’s actually Landon’s best friend and he was going to stay at the hotel in town since there won’t be any room at the cabin,” I explained. I looked over at Akio who was staring at me. The expression deer in the headlights came to mind and I had to fight back a laugh. My parents were both quiet and I held up a hand to Akio, counting down with my fingers, 3…2…1 and then pointed to the speaker.
“Well, that’s ridiculous,” my mom scoffed, right on cue. “There’s no reason for…what’s your name, honey?”
“Um, it’s Akio. Akio Forrest, ma’am,” he answered with an adorable squeak.
“There’s no reason for you to stay at a hotel, Akio, when we have more than enough room right here. I’ll just fix up the guest room so it’s ready for you when you get here,” she said.
“No, really. I don’t want to be any trouble, ma’am,” he insisted.
“Don’t be silly. We’re happy to have you. Besides, you’re keeping Oliver safe on the ride home and we appreciate that more than you could ever know. Now you boys be safe and we’ll keep a light on for you.”
“Thank you?” Akio said quietly, but it came out as more of a question.
“Oh, and one more thing, Akio. We are very informal people so there’s no need for any of that ma’am stuff. Call us by our names, Susan and Jeff, okay?” she informed him.
“Yes, ma’am…er…Susan. Thank you and thank you too, Jeff. I appreciate you letting me stay there,” Akio said quickly.
“Bye, guys. I love you,” I said.
“Bye, honey, be safe driving. We love you,” they both said over each other. I hung up the phone and popped another fry in my mouth with a satisfied grin.
“What the hell just happened?” Akio asked in exasperation.
“You were worried that my parents wouldn’t want you to stay at their house. I called them so you could hear directly from them that they would love to have you there. Problem solved,” I said happily.
“I could kill you right now,” he informed me.
“Okay, but make sure you cancel your hotel reservation first so they don’t charge your credit card.” I smiled at him innocently. He answered with a low growl and turned to face the window. We finished eating in silence and I wondered if maybe I’d really upset him and he was going to refuse to speak to me the rest of the trip. I was relieved when he spoke up a minute later.
“Your parents seem really nice,” he said quietly.
“They’re pretty great,” I told him.
“Sounds like you guys are close. I like that. I’m close to my parents too.” He cleaned up the garbage left over from our dinner and rolled the bag up before setting it on the floor by his feet.
“We are. I’m really lucky to have them as parents. They’ve always supported me in everything, even with my decision to leave. I know it wasn’t easy on them to see their only son move so far from home.” I couldn’t help the wave of guilt I felt as I pictured their faces as I drove away that last time.
“Why did you move?” he asked.
“It was just something I needed,” I replied casually. We had been having a good time and I didn’t want to ruin it by explaining about my failed relationship with David. Akio seemed to sense that I didn’t want to talk about it and I was grateful when he moved on. That was, until I heard his next question.
“So, Oliver?” I winced. I’d really been hoping he hadn’t heard my mother say that.
“Yeah,” I said reluctantly.
“Oliver’s not a bad middle name. Why do you look like you swallowed a lemon?” he asked with a chuckle.
“It’s not my middle name. It’s my first name,” I answered with a sigh.
I clenched my jaw. I could feel Akio’s stare as he puzzled out what it was I wasn’t saying. I kept my eyes on the road as I waited for it to dawn on him. It didn’t take as long as I hoped before I heard his swift intake of breath, followed by peals of laughter. My shoulders drooped.
“Oh. My. God,” he said, wiping tears from his eyes. He sounded just like a character from a show I liked when he said it, but I wasn’t finding the situation funny. After all, I’d heard it more times than I could remember.
“Oliver Morgan Greene? Your initials are OMG?” He broke out into another fit of laughter and I
tried to stay serious, but there was something contagious about the sound of Akio’s laugh. It was a distinct sound that reminded me of summer days, ice cream, and happiness. I could listen to that sound forever.
“Alright, funny man. Get it out of your system,” I said with a smile.
“I’m sorry. You have a really great name, honestly.” He wiped the last of the tears from his cheeks as he calmed down. “The initials all together though…” He shook his head and smiled at me.
“Maybe my parents didn’t like me as much as I thought,” I mused.
“No, I could hear it in their voices. They’re crazy about you.”
“They’re my parents, they kind of have to like me,” I joked.
“Well, I don’t have to like you, but I do,” he said so quietly I would’ve missed it if I hadn’t been paying close attention. I turned to look at him and my heart leapt inside my chest at the shy smile that he gave me.
“I like you too,” I told him, surprising myself with just how much I was beginning to like him.
“This is beautiful,” Akio said, sitting up in his seat and peering out the front window as I pulled into the long drive that led to my parents’ house. We’d continued to make good time and arrived at just a little past one thirty in the morning.
“It looks even better in the daylight. I’ll show you around tomorrow,” I told him proudly as I parked the truck and turned off the headlights.
I opened my door and smiled at the comforting sounds of tree frogs and owls. We grabbed our luggage from the back seat and I fished my house key from my pocket as we walked up the steps of the deep-set front porch. Mom had left the kitchen light on, as promised, so we didn’t have to stumble around in the dark.
I heard a familiar noise coming towards the kitchen and I set our bags down on the floor as I dropped to one knee. Carly, our golden retriever and my childhood playmate, came to welcome me home. She’d been a gift for me on my fifteenth birthday and the two of us had been inseparable. Over the years she’d developed hip problems and could hardly see anymore. I could tell that it was getting harder for her to get around, but right then, she was simply a dog that was happy to see her boy and I was happy to see her too. Her tail wagged cheerfully and I rubbed the top of her head, ducking my head to brush my cheek against her soft fur. I looked up in surprise when Akio dropped to the floor and began petting her.
“What’s her name?” he whispered.
“Carly,” I told him, laughing quietly as she rolled over so he would give her a belly rub. “I think she likes you.”
“She’s beautiful. I always wanted a dog, but my dad is allergic,” he explained.
“That’s too bad. Carly was a great companion when I was growing up. Still are, aren’t you, girl?” I cooed at her. She rewarded me by licking my hand. Akio covered his mouth quickly as he yawned.
“Come on, I’ll show you where your room is so you can get some rest.” I stood quickly and held a hand out to him. His was warm and soft as he slid it into mine and I felt the same tingling right under the surface of my skin that I always felt when we touched. Once he was on his feet, I reluctantly let go so that we could pick up our bags.
I led the way up the stairs to the loft area of the house. I pointed out the bathroom at the end of the hall and then flipped the light on in the guest room and set Akio’s bags down at the foot of the bed. The room looked exactly the same as it always had with hardwood floors and white lace curtains and a blue comforter on the bed. It was simple, but comforting and I smiled when I saw that my mom had placed a vase full of flowers on the table by the bed in preparation for Akio’s visit.
“We don’t have to be anywhere until tomorrow evening so feel free to sleep in as late as you want. My parents will be down at the cabin first thing in the morning I’m sure, so it should stay quiet around here,” I told him.
“Okay,” he said, glancing around the room nervously.
“My room’s right across the hall if you need anything,” I said.
He nodded and we stood there just staring at each other for several seconds. I felt that old shift in the atmosphere and I crossed the room in two long strides, gathering him in my arms and covering his lips with mine. His arms curled around my neck and I pulled him tighter to me. The kiss went on for a long time with us taking turns nibbling and tasting each other. He fit so perfectly in my arms as if he’d always belonged there, that when he pulled away, I felt the loss immediately.
“Good night, Morgan,” he said softly.
“Sweet dreams, Akio,” I whispered back. He smiled softly and I backed out of the room, holding his gaze as I slowly shut the door. I leaned my forehead against the door and blew out a long breath. I think I might be in trouble.
I woke in a strange bed in a room that didn’t seem familiar at all. My first thought was “Oh hell, what did I do?” but then I remembered the wedding and travelling with Morgan.
Morgan.
Warmth filled my chest as I thought about him and the fun we’d had on the way there. When he’d first asked if I wanted to ride with him to Tennessee, I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to come up with enough to talk about and there’d be long spaces filled with awkward silences. What ended up happening however, was quite the opposite. In fact, there was very little time in which we didn’t talk and the few quiet moments that did occur were more comfortable than awkward. Being with Morgan was as easy as breathing, yet exhilarating enough to leave me breathless.
My mind wandered to the kiss we’d shared the night before. We’d been staring at each other, neither one of us quite ready to end what had been a rather fun-filled night. Suddenly, he was coming at me, his intentions clear in his eyes and then his lips were on mine. The scruff along his jaw rubbed my face deliciously and sent waves of pleasure running up and down my spine. He’d taken control of the kiss, gently demanding that I open to him. I’d allowed him entry and his tongue had swept in, teasing, exploring, and tantalizing me in a way that made my head spin and my heart feel like it was going to beat its way right out of my chest. The kiss ended far more quickly than I would’ve liked and before I’d known it, he was saying good night and was out the door.
My hand slid under the covers and pressed against my cock as the memory played out in my mind like a scene from a movie or in this case, the beginning of a very dirty porn video. I reached under the waistband of my sleep pants and wrapped my hand around my aching cock. I moaned loudly and then slapped my other hand over my mouth, my eyes springing open as I remembered where I was. I listened carefully for any sounds outside my door and then breathed a sigh of relief when I didn’t hear anything. The last thing I needed was for the first impression I made on Morgan’s parents to be of me jerking off to thoughts of their son.
I threw the covers off and climbed out of bed, ignoring the complaints of my dick as he realized he wasn’t going to get any relief. Grabbing my toiletry bag, I pulled the door open slowly, peeking through the crack to see if anyone was around. I could hear the faint sound of voices coming from downstairs and I wondered if Morgan’s parents were getting ready to head over to help with the wedding preparations.
Morgan’s door was shut so I assumed he was still sleeping. Rolling my eyes when I realized I was acting like poor Mrs. Stevenson when she spied on me at home, I stepped out into the hallway and made my way towards the open door of the bathroom. I closed the door behind me and set my bag on the counter then reached in and turned on the shower. I pulled out the items I would need from my bag as I waited for the water to warm up, and then peeled my clothes off and climbed under the spray.
The water felt heavenly as it loosened my stiffened muscles and washed the last of the fogginess from my brain. I washed quickly so that I wouldn’t use all the hot water and then got out, dried off, and brushed my teeth. When I was finished with the rest of my morning routine, I wrapped a towel around my waist and grabbed my bag to head back to my room and get dressed.
I yanked the door open and stepped out of the
bathroom, but drew to a sudden stop when I noticed Morgan leaning with his shoulder against the wall and his arms crossed. The smirk he’d been wearing disappeared as his eyes travelled down my bare chest and stopped at the towel I was wearing; the towel that was quickly tenting under his heated gaze.
The naked desire I saw on his face had me feeling empowered and I moved closer until I was standing right in front of him. His hair was damp and he smelled like body wash, fresh and clean. I crooked my finger at him and he bent his head down so that my lips could meet his ear.
“That shower felt so good. All that hot water, rushing over my body. The only thing missing, was you,” I whispered. My tongue darted out to trace the shell of his ear and I felt him shudder before I stepped back.
“I’m here now,” he replied and I was thrilled with how strained his voice sounded. Given the fact that he could turn me into a puddle of goo with just a single look, it was only fair that I should be able to tease him occasionally. He reached for my towel and gave it a little tug, but I swatted his hand away with a shake of my head.
“Uh uh, not in your parents’ house. You’ll just have to wait.” Morgan tilted his head and banged it gently against the wall with a frustrated groan and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing as I stepped around him and moved towards my room. I opened the door and looked over my shoulder. He turned to watch me so I blew him a kiss and let my towel drop to the floor. I heard his sharp intake of breath right before I shut the door between us. Inside my room, I leaned against the door with a giant smile on my face. God, that was fun!
I got dressed quickly. Morgan had been dressed casually so I chose to wear my favorite pair of jeans and a blue V-neck t-shirt that was soft to the touch. The jeans might have been a little tight, but I liked the way my ass looked in them, hence why they were my favorite.
I stood in front of the mirror, making sure my hair was styled perfectly, all except for that wayward clump of hair that constantly fell over my forehead, refusing to be tamed. If it weren’t in the front of my head, I swear I’d cut the thing off.
Constructing the Soul Page 10
